France actively supports the Office of the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR plays a vital role in providing assistance to over 51 million uprooted persons, 16 million of whom are refugees.
France, traditionally being a country of welcome and of asylum, ranks second in Europe in terms of applications for international protection, with over 66 000 applications in 2013. As of December 31st 2013, 186.000 people – including 170.000 refugees – were therefore placed under the protection of the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA).